Academic Catalog

Next Steps

College of Arts and Letters2012-2013

Department of Philosophy

Philosophy, Politics and Law, Bachelor of Arts

This bachelor's degree prepares students to examine "truths," precedents, and proposals through critical thinking and provides exposure to great thinkers and practitioners. This major pulls from three challenging disciplines and illuminates them with the lights of history, logic, and math/economics.

Careers

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Law?

The B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Law will prepare you for advanced study leading to careers in law and public service. This program unites historical and mathematical study of economic and political institutions with philosophical analysis, ethical reflection, and logical rigor.

University Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.

At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.

A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

REQUIRED PPL SEMINARSStudents are required to complete a PPL seminar milestone and attend at least two seminars with distinguished visiting lecturers. Typically, a seminar will consist of no more than 15 students in a roundtable session with a guest lecturer. Students will read and be prepared to raise questions about an excerpt of work in progress by the guest. A PPL advisor's signature on the student's graduation form indicates completion of these requirements.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICUMStudents are advised to complete one or more of the following practicum listed below, which will require the completion of an application and specific requirements):

Research project in collaboration with a faculty member

Internship such as a legislative internship (HIS 466 or PHI 466) or with a law firm or business (PHI 408)

Service learning such as leading philosophy sessions in local high schools (PHI 408)

Semester of external study as an international or national exchange student

Foreign Language Requirement

You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP exams arranged by the Center for Business Outreach.

General Electives

Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)

Additional Information

Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.